CINCINNATI, Ohio– The University of Kentucky used its final dual meet competition to prepare for the upcoming SEC Championships by winning 13 events, three winners set career-high times and the Wildcats were responsible for three new Keating Aquatics Center pool records in the men?s and women?s defeat of Cincinnati on Friday night.
The Kentucky men (4-4) toppled Cincinnati 112-72, while the UK women (5-3) earned a 105-81 decision. The divers competed, however their scores were considered as exhibition events only and did not count for the final score.
The quartet of junior Kristian Outinen, sophomore Mickey Malul, sophomore Warren Grobbelaar and freshman Alex Forbes kick started the meet with a 1:30.02 time to take the 200-medley relay, the meet?s opening event.
Sophomore James Batley tapped in first in a time of 1:41.12, in the 200-freestyle event while setting the Keating Aquatics Center record in the process. Freshman Drew Robinson guided the Wildcats with a second-place finish in the same event.
UK?s trio of Grobbelaar, junior Grant Nelson and freshman Elvis Burrows took the 100-butterfly 1-2-3. Grobbelaar touched first clocking in a time of 48.76, setting a pool record and a career-best time.
Forbes followed with a victory in the 100-free in a time of 45.66. The time is a new-career best for the rookie.
Sophomore Shane Eliason continued his streak of wins in the backstroke events, winning his fourth consecutive 100-backstroke when he topped the field in a time of 50.78. Outinen concluded the individual wins on the evening, winning the 100-breaststroke finishing in 55.46 seconds.
The men ended the night with a win in the 200-free relay. Burrows, Robinson, sophomore Lance Bowman and freshman Travis Muzzillo combined for a 1:24.95 finish.
On the women?s side, junior Lauren Willis led a Wildcat finish of 1-4 in the 200-freestyle event as the Lexington native tapped in a time of 1:52.16, to lead the way. Sophomore Haleigh Kerns, freshman Casey Miller and sophomore Kristina Sledge followed suit.
Junior Jenny Bradford appeared in the 200-individual medley for the first time this season and topped the field in a 2:05.00 time. Bradford?s time is a new career-best and moves her into No. 5 on UK?s all-time top-10 list in the event.
Not to be outdone by her twin sister, Heather Bradford clocked in a time of 55.1, in the 100-butterfly to set a new Keating Aquatics Center record. Freshman Megan Pulskamp touched in second in a time of 57.19.
Kerns and junior Lindsay Myhre concluded the individual wins for Kentucky. Kerns placed first in the 500-free while Myhre took the 100-breast.
The women finished the night with an impressive win in the 200-free relay. Heather Bradford, Willis, senior Nikia Deveaux and Jenny Bradford earned a 1:32.57 time to take the event.
Tonight?s meet concludes the regular season for the Wildcats. They next return to the pool when they host the 2007 SEC Championships. Diving will be first beginning on Friday, Feb. 2.
